Cooking appliance



Jan.. 7, 1936.'

J. P. sPANG COOKING APPLIANQE Filez; June e, 1932 ,s sheets-sheet 1- L Ml l lnyeno'r. LJQseph P. Spdng bym f ATTXS:

5 sheets-sheet 2' ,.&. L f. 1 wmf/A Fw; IMPM In. 4m ww Jan.. 7, 1936. lJ, P, SPANG 2,027,002

COOKING APPLIANCE Filed June 6, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lnvenTor. E ,..47Uoseph F? Spung Iig' www1/M L Ays.

Patented Jan. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 19 Claims.

This invention relates to cooking appliances of the type designed forperforming a cooking operation on food in sliced form, such for instanceas toasting slices of bread or broiling yslices of meat.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a novel cookingapparatus of this type which comprises a .housing within which thesliced food is toasted or broiled, which housing has openings in itsbottom together with means for discharging the cooked slice, whether inthe'form of toasted bread or broiled meat, through said opening.

While Vthe invention is capable of general use where food in slice formis to be toastedor broiled or otherwise cooked yet it is speciallyuseful in the making of meat sandwiches of the kind in-v cluding a sliceof broiled meat between two slices of toast. When used in this mannerthe two slices of bread and a slice of meat may be placed in theappliance and subjected to the cooking loperation simultaneously andwhen the bread is toasted and the meat broiled the three slices may bedischarged through the openings in the bottom ofthe housing andassembled as a sandwich.

In the preferred form of my invention I provide the device with chutesleading from the openings and which convey the three slices of foodgoing to make up the sandwich into a position in which they aresuperposed one on the other in sandwich form with the slice of meatbetween the slices of toast.

The device may also be provided with means for automatically butteingthe toast .and the meat as they are dischargedv from 'the housing. Hencewith this apparatus it is possible to make a. meat sandwichsimply byplacing the two slices of bread and the slice of meat in the applianceand then subjecting these slices to the desired toasting or broilingoperations and subsequently discharging the toasted or broiled slicesfrom the housing, said slices being automatically buttered and assembledin sandwich formation as they'are thus discharged.

In order to give an understanding of the invention I have illustrated inthe drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be describedafter which the novel features will be pointed out in the appendedclaims.

' Fig. 1 is a view partly in section illustrating a device embodying myinvention, said section be ing on the line I-I, Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing a modifiedform of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Fig. 3;

My improved cooking appliance comprises a housing within which thecooking is done, which 5 housing has discharge openings in its bottom,means for supporting food in slice form over said openings, heatingelements within the housing for toasting or cooking the slices thussupported, and means for discharging the cooked slices 10 throughsaidopenings.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I indicatesa suitable housing within which the cooking is performed and thishousing is shown as supported on legs or supports 2.

Situated Within the housing are heating elements herein shownas electriccoils by which Athe cooking or toasting operation is performed. Anydesired number of such coils may be used depending on the size of theapparatus. The oonstruction herein shown is one adapted to cook threeslices simultaneously and there are four coils used which are designated3, 4, 5 and 60 respectively. These coils may beconnected to the supplycircuit through any suitable connec- 25 tion (not shown). y

Means arevprovided for supporting slices of food, such for instances asslices of bread to be toasted or slices of meat to be broiled, in properrelation to these heating elements and in the construction shown inFigs. 1 and 2 the slice-supporting means comprises means for clampingthe slices in proper position. Each slice-clamping means comprises twoclamping elements 6 and 'I each in the form of a grid and between whichthe slice is clamped. 35

In the construction shown inv Figs. 1 and 2 the housing is provided withan open front 9 adapted to be closed by a door 8 which is hinged to thehousing at IU and the slice-clamping members are carried by the door 8.The clamping elements 40 6 are rigidly secured to the door, each elementbeing shown as having therfeet portions l I which are rigidly secured tothe inside of the door. The clamping elements 1 are also carried by thedoor but are mounted for movement toward and from the clamping elements6. Said clamp'ing elements 1 are carried by a bar I3 which is mounted inbearings I4 secured to the door. The bar I3 is square in cross sectionand each clampingmember 1 is provided with an extension I2 having asquare aperture through which the bar extends. Since the bar is squarein cross section it is preventedfrom turning in its bearings I4 and thcflat-sided construction of the bar I3 together with the square orfiat-sided openings in the exten- 55 sions I2 prevent the clampingmembers 1 from turning relative to the bar I3 but allow said members toslide on the bar in the direction of its length.

- Each member 1 is acted on by a spring I 5 which tends to urge ittoward the corresponding clamping member 6. Each spring I5 encircles thebar I3 and bears at one end against the extension I2 of a clampingmember 1 and at the other end against a collar I6. ilxed to the bar.-This bar I3 not only forms a support for the movable clamping members 1but also provides means for separating the clamping members of each pairto provide for placing a slice of bread or meat between the clampingmembers, or for releasing said slice after it has been toasted orbroiled. For this purpose the bar I3 is slidable longitudinally in itsbearing I4 and is provided with pins or pr'ojections I1 adapted toengage the extensions I2 of the clamping' members 1 as the bar is movedto the right in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows in full lines slices of food held by the food-clampingelements, said slices being indicated at I3, I3 and 20 respectively. Tounelamp the slices the bar I3 is moved to the right into the dotted lineposition, during which movement the pins I1 will engage the extensionsI2 of the clamping members 1 and move them to the right into the dottedline position against the action of the springs I5. For thus actuatingthe bar I3 I have provided a cam member 2l adapted to engage the end 22of the bar I3 which projects through the door, said cam member beingpivoted at 23 on a bracket 24 secured to the door. vThis cam is providedwith a handle 25 by which it may be Ioperated.

When the handle is in the full line.position Fig. 1 the end 22 of thebar I3 rests against the low portion of the cam 2I and by turning saidhandle into the dotted line position the cam will move the bar. I3 tothe right thereby separating the clamping members 1 from the members 8and releasing the slices I 3, I3 and 20.

The bottom 26 of the housing I is provided with openings 21 throughwhich the slices may be discharged. There is one such opening 21 beneatheach pair of clamping members 6 and 1 so that when the clamping members1 are separated from the members 6 the slices I8, I3, 20 will bereleased and may then gravitate through the openings 21. l

In using the device the door 3 will be opened into the dotted lineposition, Fig. 2, and since the clamping members are secured to the doorthis opening movement oi' the door will withdraw them from the casingand place them in the position shown in Fig. 2. The handle 25 may thenbe manipulated to separate the clamping members and the slices of foodare then placed in position between the clamping members. Eachstationary clamping member is shown as having rests or supports 23 onwhich the slice is temporarily supported when 'it is placed between theclamping members. After the slices have been placed between the clampingmembers the handle 25 may be swung into its full line position Fig. 1thereby allowing. the springs I5- to move the clamping members 1 towardthe clamping members 3 with the result that each slice will beyieldingly clamped between the two clamping members. 'Ihis arrangementwill readily accommodate slices of different thicknesses as each springI5 will hold its clamping member 1 yieldingly against the sliceregardless ot the thickness. The door may then be swung in its closedposition which will place the slice in a toasting or broiling relationwith the heating elements 3, 4, 5 and 60. When the slices have beensubjected to heat for a sumcient length of time the handle 25 may beswung into the dotted line position Fig. 1 while the door is 5 stillclosed thereby unclamping the slices and allowing them to gravitatethrough the openings 21.

I will preferably provide guiding chutes which are associated with theopenings 21 and which guide the gravitating slices of food into asuitable l0 receptacle. Associated with the right hand opening 21 is aninclined chute or guide 23 which receives the slice I8 when itisunclamped as shown by dotted lines Fig. 1 and which leads to asuitable receptacle 30. l5

'I'he center opening 21 has associated therewith another guide or chute3| and the right hand opening has associated therewith a guide or chute32. Both of the chutes 3 I, 32 terminate somewhat above the receptacle30 so that the slices I3 and 20 2li will be deposited from the chutes3|, 32 into the receptacle 30.

The device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is specially designed for use inmaking a toasted meat sandwich comprising two slices of toast with a 25slice of broiled meat between them. In doing this the two slices oftoast will be placed in the two end slice-supporting devices asindicated at I3 and 20 and the slice of meat will be placed in thecenter slice-supporting device as indicated at I3. 30

A greater amount of heat is required to properly broil the slice ofsteak than to toast a slice of bread and in making a toasted steaksandwich it is desirable to have the broiling of the steak completed atapproximately the same time that the 35 bread is correctly toasted. Inorder to provide for this I propose to make the heating elements 4 and 5by which the steak is broiled of greater heat-producing capacity thanthe other heating elements 3 and 60 and in order that these larger oheating units or elements 4 and 5 may not toast the side of the slice ofbread facing them too rapidly I propose to place them closer to thecenter clamping members than to the outside clamping members. 'I'hearrangement will be 5 such that the toasting eilect of the largerheatproducing element 4 on the slice I 3 will be sub-A stantially thesame as that of the smaller element 3 vdue to the fact that the element4 is a greater distance from the slice than the element 50 3. With thisarrangement, therefore, the slice of meat and the slice of toast may beplaced in the device at the same time and the toasting and/or broilingoperation on each will be completed at approximately the same time. 55

When the toasting is done the lever 25 may be thrown into the dottedline position thereby unclamping the three slices and allowing them togravitate through the opening 21 into the receptacle 30. 'Ihisreceptacle is arranged to re- 60 ceive the slices in an inclinedposition and because of its relation to the chutes the three slices willbe deposited in the receptacle in a superposed relation as shown indotted lines Fig. i with the meat slice' I3 between the two slices of 55toast, which is the correct relative position of these slices for makinga sandwich.

I have also provided means for buttering the' slices as they gravitateinto the receptacle 33. This is herein accomplished by providing each 70of the chutes 23, 3I and 32 with a receptacle 33 adapted to hold meltedbutter 34. Each receptacle is in the form of a drum which is mounted toturn about its axis in suitable bearings 35 carried by the chutes. andfor this Durpe each 75 'cles one of the trunnions 39 and is secured atone end to the bracket and at the other end to a collar fast on thetrunnion.

When a slice gravitates down any chute, the lower edge of the slicewillengage the lip 31 and the momentum of the moving slice together withits weight will through such engagement turn the drum into the dottedline position of the left hand drum in Fig. 1 and the drum will remainin this position while the slice of toast is passing the lip 31. Whenthedrum is in this position the melted butter will flow out through thedelivery slot 36 and thus be applied to the toast. The same kind ofbuttering device may be used with the central chute 3l for buttering the'slice of meat and if desired with the chute 32 to apply butter to theslice 2 0 although for making a sandwichit is not necessary to butterthe slice 20.

With this device, therefore, the three slices goingto make up thesandwich may be placed in the receptacle and when they are thoroughlytoasted or broiled they may be automatically buttered and delivered intothe receptacle 30 in sandwich formation.

The springs 38 controlling the drums 33 will preferably be adjusted soas to just overbalance the weight of the lip 31. 'Each drum is thusdelicately balanced so that a slight pressure on its lip 31 will besufficient to turn it into the dotted line position Fig. 1. When,however, the pressureV on the lip is relieved, as will occur after theslice of toast has passed the lip, the spring will function to returnthe drum to its normal position.

The device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is further provided with meansfor applying a downward pressure on each slice when it is in its cookingor toasting position. The purpose of this device is to ensure that theslices will not stick to the clamping members after the clampingpressure has been released. Such device -is herein shown in the form ofspring arms 6i, there being one such spring arm for each slice-clampingmember. These spring arms are shown as secured to the top of the housingl and as having a foot portion 62 adapted to rest against the top edgeof the slice and apply a downward pressure thereto. When the door withthe slices supported thereon is closed the'slice will engagethe arms 6iand force them back into the upper dotted line position Fig. 2 to allowthe door to be closed and when the door is 4closed the foctportions 62of the arms will bear against the slices and the arms will be slightlyexed so that a downward pressure is applied to the slices. As soon as.the slices are unclamped this downward pressure initiates thegravitational movement of the slices.

The lower dotted lines of the arm 5i in Fig. 2 shows the normal positionof the arm while the full lines show its position when resting on the islice of toast and when placed under some tension. These springs 6I willserve to loosen the slices from the clamping members in case they shouldstick or adhere thereto due to the cooking operation and said arms thusensure that the slices will gravitate through the openings 21 when theclamping pressure is relieved.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown a somewhat different embodiment of theinvention in which the slices to be toasted are introduced into 'therecep- 5 vtacle through openings in the top but may be delivered fromthe receptacle after having been toasted or broiled through openings inthe bottom as above described.

In the embodiment shown in these iigures 'the housing within which thecooking is done is indicated at 4I and it has located withinit aplurality of heat-producing elements indicated at 42, such elementsbeing arranged in pairs and the elements of each pair being adapted toreceive be- 15 tween them a slice to be toasted or broiled. The deviceshown in Figs. 3 and 4 is also provided with guards or retaining members43 arranged in pairs. the members of each pair providing a space betweenthem adapted to receive a slice of bread or 20 'meat to be toasted orbroiled. There is a pai!` of such guard members between each pair ofheating units.

The housing 4I is shown as having openings 44 vin its top which aresituated directly above 25 the spaces 45 so that the slices to betoasted or broiled may be dropped into the spaces 45 through theopenings 44. The housing 4I is also provided with discharge openings 46beneath the spaces 45 and through which the slices are discharged after30 being toasted or broiled. Each space 45 is provided with a supportingmember 41 on which the slice 48 rests as indicated in dotted lines inFig. 4.

These supporting members 41 may be swung downwardly through the openings46 as shown by 35 dotted lines Fig. 4 in order to discharge the slicethrough said opening. These supporting members 41 are shown as securedto a shaft 48 mounted for rotation in the casing and the shaft isprovided with a handle 49 by which it may be opero ated.

The arms 41 are normally held in their operative position shown in Figs.3 and 4 through the medium of spring 50 which encircles the shaft 48 andis secured at one end to the bearing 5| for 5 the sllaft and at theother end to the arm or handle 49.

52 indicates a stop strip located within the housing and which limitsthe upward or springimpelled swinging movement of the members 41 andserves to hold them in their proper operative position.

In using this device the slices to be toasted are deposited into thehousing through the openings 44, said slices being supported on thesupporting 55 members 41. When the slices are properly toasted orbroiled the arm 49 is actuated to swing the supporting members 41downwardly through the openings 46, which opera-tion will permit theslices to gravitate through the openings. Each opening may have a chute53 associated therewith, with chutes are similar in construction to thechutes 29, 3|,32 shown in Fig. 1 so that as the slices are dischargedthrough the openings 48 they will be delivered into a receptacle in 85superpesed or sandwich formation.

1. An appliance for toasting or cooking food in slice formationcomprising a housing having a. plurality of separate unobstructedopenings in its bottom, a pair of slice-clamping members to support aslice stationarily Within the housing over each opening, a spring forholding each pair of clamping members in. camping engagement with theslice, heating elements within the housu ing arranged to toast or broilsaid slices while thus stationarily supported, and means common to allthe pairs of slice-clamping members to open simultaneously, whereby saidslices gravitate through said openings.

2. A de'vice of the class described comprising a housing having openingsin its bottom, slicesupporting means for supporting a slice over eachopening, means to toast or broil the slices thus supported, meansproviding for discharging said slices through said openings, areceptacle below the openings, and slice-guiding means extending fromeach opening to the receptacle and constructed to deliver the slicesinto the receptacle in superposecl parallel relation.' l

3. A device of the class described comprising a housirg having aplurality of openings in its bottom, slice-clamping means for supportingsimultaneously a slice over each opening, means to toast or broil theslices thus supported, means to release the clamping means whereby saidslices are discharged through said openings, a receptacle, slice-guidingmeans for delivering the slices from the various openings into saidreceptacle in superposed relation.

4. A device of the class described comprising a housing having openingsin its bottom, a pair of spring-actuated slice-clamping elements foreach opening, each pair of elements adapted to clamp a slice betweenthem and support it stationarily in vertical position over thecorresponding opening, means for toasting or broiling the slices whilethus` stationarily supported, and means common to all the pairs ofclamping elements to separate the elements of each pair against theaction of its spring thereby allowing the slices to gravitate throughthe openings.

5. A device of the class described comprising a housing havingunobstructed openings in its bottom, a pair of slice clamping elementsfor each opening, each pair of elements adapted to clamp a slice betweenthem and supportit in vertical position over the corresponding opening,means for toasting or broiling the slices thus supported, a receptacle,and slice-guiding means to deliver said slices from the various openingsinto the receptacle ln superposed relation.

6. A device of the class described comprising a housing having openingsin its bottom, a pair of slice-clamping elements for each opening,eachpair of elements adapted to clamp a slice between them and supportit in-vertical position over the corresponding opening, means fortoasting or broiling the slices thus supported, a receptacle,slice-guiding means to deliver said slices from the various openingsinto the receptacle in superposed relation.

7. A device of the class described comprising a housing having openingsin its bottom and open at one side, a door for closing the opening inthe side, slice-clamping members carried by the door and adapted whenthe door is closed to support slices over the openings, means within thehousing to toast or broil the slices thus supported, and means on theexterior of the housing to relieve the clamping pressure on the slicesthereby to allow them to gravitate through said openings.

8. A device of the class described comprising a housing having openingsin its bottom and open at one side, a door for closing the opening inthe side, slice-clamping members carried by the door and adapted whenthe door is closed to support slices over the openings, means within thehousing to toast or broil the slices thus supported, means on theexterior of the housing to relieve the clamping pressure on the slicesthereby to allow them to gravitate through said openings, and means toapply butter to the slices during their gravitating movement.

9. A device of the class described comprising 5 a housing having anopening in its bottom, sliceclamping means by which a slice is clampedand held inposition over said opening, means to toast or broil the slicethus supported, means to relieve the clamping pressure, and meansapplying a 10 downward force to said slice to initiate its gravitatingmovement through the opening.

10. An appliance for toasting or cooking food in slice formationcomprising a housing having a plurality ot unobstructed openings in itsbottom, 15 a spring-controlled slice-clamping device for supporting aslice stationarily in vertical position over each opening, means withinthe housing for toasting or broiling the slices while thus stationarilysupported by the slice-clamping devices, 20 and means common to al1 theslice-clamping devices to release the spring pressure on each device,thereby permitting the slices to gravitate through the various openings.

11. An appliance for toasting or cooking food in slice formationcomprising a housing having a plurality of unobstructed openings in itsbottom,

a slice-clamping device for supporting a slice stationarily in verticalposition over each opening, means within the housing for toasting orbroiling 30 the slices while thus stationarily supported by theslice-clamping means, means to release all the slice-clamping meanssimultaneously thereby permitting the slices to gravitate through thevarious openings, and slice-guiding means to de- 35 v liver insuperposed parallel relation the slices thus delivered through thevarious openings.

12. A device of the class described comprising a housing having openingsin its bottom and also being open at one side, a door hinged to thehous- 40 ing to swing about a horizontal axis and adapted to close theopening in the side, slice-clamping members carried by the door andadapted when the door is closed to support slices over the openings,means within the housing to toast or broil 5 the slices thus supported,and means carried by the door to relieve the clamping pressure on theslices simultaneously thereby to allow them to gravitate through saidopenings.

13. A device of the class described comprising a 50 housing havingopenings in its bottom and also being open at one side, a door forclosing the opening in the side, slice-clamping members carried by thedoor and adapted when the door is closed to support slices over theopenings, means u within the housing to toast or broil the slices thussupported, means carried by the door to relieve the-clamping pressure onthe slices thereby to allow them to gravitate through said openings, areceptacle beneath the openings, and slice-guido ing means for guidingthe slic to the receptacle and delivering them therein in superposedparallel relation.

14. An appliance for toasting or cooking food in slice formation,comprising a housing having a plurality of unobstructed openings in itsbottom, a plurality oi separate slice-clamping devices, one for eachopening, each slice-clamping device comprising two clamping membersbetween which 70 a slice is clamped and a spring for yieldingly holdingthe clamping members of each device ln clamping engagement with theslice, each sliceclamping device being operative to support a slice invertical position over the corresponding openu ing, means within thehousing for toasting or broiling the slices thus supported, and meanscomA mon to all the clamping devices for compressing means within thehousing for toasting or broiling the slices thus supported, means commonto all the clamping devices for releasing their clamping engagement withthe slices, and means normally applying a downward pressure on eachslice to initiate its gravitating movement through the correspondingopening.

16. An appliance for toasting or cooking food in slice formationcomprising a housing havingA a plurality of unobstructed openings in itsbottom, a separate slice-clamping device for each opening, eachslice-clamping device adapted to support a slice in vertical positionover the cor-V responding opening, means within the housing for toastingor broiling the slices while thus supported, means .common to all theslice-clamping means to release them, and means applying a downwardpressure on each slice to initiate its gravitating movement through itsopening when clamping pressure thereon has been released.

17. A device for making toasted sandwiches, comprising a housingl havingthree unobstructed openings in its bottom, three slice-clamping devices,one for 'each opening, the central sliceclamping device being adapted`to support a slice of meat over its opening and the other sliceclampingdevices being adapted to support a'slice Y of bread over their openings,means within the housing for toasting or broiling the slices thussupported and in so doing subjecting the slice of meat to a greateramount of heat than the slices of bread, means common to all theslice-clamping means to release the clamping pressure on the slices,thereby permitting them to gravitate through said openings,- areceptacle below the openings, and slice-guiding means for guiding theslices into said receptacle in superposed relation with the meat slicebetween 4the bread slices.

.18. A device of the class described comprising a housing having aplurality of openings in its bottom and also being open at one side, adoor hinged to the housing and adapted to swing from a horizontal openposition to a vertical position in which it closes the opening in theside, pairs of slice-clamping members carried by the door and adaptedwhen the door is closed to support slices over the openings in thebottom, means within thehousing to toast or broil the slices thussupported, means carried by the door for releasing the slice-clampingmembers, each pair of sliceclamping members having a supporting memberassociated therewith to support each slice when the door is in openposition and the clamping members are released.

19. A device of the class described comprising a housing havingunobstructed openings in its bottom and an opening in its side, a`doorhinged to the housing to swing from a horizontal open position into avertical position in which it closes said opening in the side, aplurality of pairs of slice-clamping members carried by the door andadapted when the door is closed to support slices over the openingsinthe bottom of the housing each pair of slice-clamping memberscomprising a stationary member and a movable springpressed member, meanswithin the housing to toast or broil the slices thus supported, meanscarried by the door to relieve the clamping pressure on theslicessimultaneously, each pair of slice-clamping members having a supportingmember associated therewith to support the slice.

when the door is in open position and the clamping pressure is released.

JOSEPH P. SPANG.

